So right now my heater is not connected and instead a short (ugly) hose is run from the intake to the water pump. I'd like to get rid of that hose and was wondering if I could just put plugs in the intake and water pump where the hose connects. Anyone know if this is OK? Or is that connection an integral part of the coolant flow system? Many thanks in advance!

 

You need water running through your intake.

 

Soaring is right. you dont want to block any water flow. bypassing the heater core is ok, but thats it. dont block anything. = bad news.

 

I just saw this photo online - the 'stang apparantly belongs to an engine builder with 41 years of experience. So now I'm confused... [&:]



[IMG]local://upfiles/29286/8E6424FECCB249C089FCE685D655C174.jpg[/IMG]

 

Look at that small crooked hose below the top rad hose. It is still there with that pic.

 

Ahah - I see the hose you mention, but it's not really the hose I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of the bypass hose that runs from the TOP of the intake manifold into the water pump (see pic below - it's the hose that enters the intake directly left of the dizzy in the pic and loops down to the front of the engine - into the water pump but that's not visable in the pic).

Ordinarly, a heater hose would connect to the top of the intake in this spot and run to the heater at the firewall. Then a return line hose would run from the firewall to the water pump (you know, each of these hoses is about 3' in length).

Now, in the pic below, those hoses are replaced with that ugly bypass hose. Can I just get rid of that bypass hose and plug the intake and water pump where the connections exist, as in the first pic posted above (do you see the blue round plug in the water pump where the hose should connect?). Am I making any sense (it's getting late...)? [&:]

[IMG]local://upfiles/29286/25D109F7D0024DBD82D47C6A88022E9E.jpg[/IMG]

 

Yes you can. And if you are not planning on running a heater... yes, you should.

 

Unlike these mustangs, my ford truck come with a cutoff valve on the heater hose from the factory. This would essentially be the same thing as plugging off the holes.

 

Many thanks! Until the heater core rebuild happens (way down on the list of to-do's), at least the engine bay will be slightly less cluttered once I plug off the hose connections...

 

I just did exactly what you are talking about. Got a brass 1/2" NPT plug from NAPA to plug the manifold and a rubber plug for the water pump. No leaks now!